KANSAS CITY, MO — The baking industry is an ever-evolving landscape of creation, and Craft to Crumb’s mini-mag is, too. The March | A1 2026 Roadshow issue is the first of two new special Roadshow editions that explore cities with a high concentration of retail bakeries, offering deeper insights into the trends shaping product development and business growth.
The first issue features eight New York City bakeries known for having lines out the door on any given day.
Ess-a-Bagel | A staple NYC chain with six locations and nationwide distribution, this bakery is known for its authentic, hand-rolled bagels. Founded in 1976, Ess-a-Bagel constantly innovates, whipping up new bagel flavors and colors, schmears and sandwiches.
Lady Wong Patisserie | Founded by a powerhouse pair with combined culinary backgrounds at Michelin-starred restaurants, this bakery has grown to a three-location operation across New York and Connecticut. It’s known for its menu of global flavors and inventive textures.
Levain Bakery | With 19 stores across six states and Washington, DC, Levain is known for its hearty, artisan-style crusty breads and oversized, 6-ounce cookies. The bakery’s OG cookie flavor, Chocolate Chip Walnut, stands the test of time as Levain’s reigning bestseller.
Janie’s Life-Changing Baked Goods | Founder Janie Deegan’s Pie Crust Cookie put this bakery on the map, laying the foundation for the multi-million-dollar company. Featuring a flaky pie crust bottom, a gooey middle layer and a buttery streusel topping, Janie’s invention paved the path for the bakery’s growing presence in the Big Apple.
Dominique Ansel Bakery | This eponymous storefront of the James Beard Award-winning French pastry chef is known for its Cronut, an invention that marries a croissant and a donut for a one-of-a-kind textural treat. To keep things fresh, Dominique rotates the menu every six to eight weeks, integrating in-season ingredients into the bakery’s vast scope of offerings.
Empire Cake | With window displays of extravagantly decorated multi-tiered cakes, ranging from Vintage Lambeth-style and photorealistic designs, Empire Cake captures customers’ attention and is also known for its gourmet versions of nostalgic American treats, such as Twinkies, Snoballs and Swiss Rolls.
Supermoon Bakehouse | Known for its “Instagrammable” aesthetic, Supermoon pushes the boundaries of traditional baking, infusing flavors and textures to create an entirely new type of pastry. Perhaps the most notable, the twice-baked, bi-color croissants feature vibrant lamination and diverse flavors, with new menu drops weekly.
Magnolia Bakery | Demand for this bakery’s icebox desserts and specialty cakes is evident, with an international 40-plus storefront footprint. To help with this demand, Magnolia Bakery recently established a franchising program to bring the bakery experience to cities across the US.
Rounding out the Roadshow is a glimpse of Top Traits trends seen in bakery cases across NYC, and Bakers Know Bakers, a list of recommendations of local bakeries from those who know best.
Are you ready to be inspired?
